I stupidly run out of diesel last week. I filled up, but my 300tdi wouldn't start. I tried priming with the little handle on the lift pump, but there was no resistance, no matter how many times I flicked the ignition. I took the fuel filter off and filled it to the brim, put it back on and the engine started started ain't straight away and drive fine before cutting out again. I'd had to manually fill the new filter to get it going when I services the car a few months ago., but never had any cutting out issues once it started.
When I took the fuel filter off, it was completely empty. So refilled it and drove until it conked out again. Finally got it home after about 4 fuel filter refills! I've ordered a new lift pump, but is there anything else I should be looking at? Injection pump was professionally rebuilt with button seals and calibrated a few months ago. Can't see any diesel leaking from leak off pipes, but they do feel hard. I fitted a brand new sender unit to the tank about a two years ago.
Thanks for any advice.

Steviecops said:

I stupidly run out of diesel last week. I filled up, but my 300tdi wouldn't start. I tried priming with the little handle on the lift pump, but there was no resistance, no matter how many times I flicked the ignition. I took the fuel filter off and filled it to the brim, put it back on and the engine started started ain't straight away and drive fine before cutting out again. I'd had to manually fill the new filter to get it going when I services the car a few months ago., but never had any cutting out issues once it started.
When I took the fuel filter off, it was completely empty. So refilled it and drove until it conked out again. Finally got it home after about 4 fuel filter refills! I've ordered a new lift pump, but is there anything else I should be looking at? Injection pump was professionally rebuilt with button seals and calibrated a few months ago. Can't see any diesel leaking from leak off pipes, but they do feel hard. I fitted a brand new sender unit to the tank about a two years ago.
Thanks for any advice.

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I had a problem like this before. It was a blockage in the fuel line. Lift pump failure shouldn't prevent it starting and it should run well without the assistance of the lift pump except when going up hills. That's when you would notice a problem with the lift pump.....Get an air line and disconnect the fuel supply pipe at the filter and blow it through. Take the cap off the tank to allow the air to expel itself from the tank. Also, check the fuel sedimenter in the rear offside wheelarch as this can cause similar problems.....

Lift pump wont prevent it atartin but it will be the reason y the filter drainin change lift pump and try that before checking any other th8ngs as you will spend money you dont have to

Thanks for the advice. I think the lift pump wasn't needed when the system was full primed and went in noticed. When I had trouble after the service and had to manually fill the filter, the pipe from tank to filter would still have been partly primed.. I'll let you know what happens when I change the pump.

cheap filters can also leak. best buy brands

There could be an air leak in the line from the fuel tank that runs to the lift pump any air sucked in a split joiner hose or the plastic line will stop the pump from sucking fuel, as well it can suck air at the sedimenter filter just behind the RHS rear wheel, between tank and lift pump.

It was the lift pump. Old one wasn't doing a thing, new one primed the system and bled it through the filter under pressure in seconds.
Thanks for your contributions.

Sounds like athe problem I had a few weeks ago. New lift pump and it was right as rain.